Hose-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet'I 1.

LFOR'D. HOSE GO'UPLING.

No. 250,225. Patented No.29,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

LEWIS FORD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOSE-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,225, dated November 29, 1881.

Application led June 9, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS FORD, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented Improvements in Hose-Couplings, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a partof this specifcation, wherein- Figure lis a plan of one of the sections of the coupling. Fig.2 is a transverse vertical section of the coupling. Fig. 3 is a detail broken elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of one of the sections of the coupling, and Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevations of the coupling.

My invention has for its object to provide a coupling the two parts of whichl shall be exactly alike, so that either end of any section to which the same is applied may be coupled with either end of any other section having a like coupling.

A further object of my invention is to dispense with male and femalejoints in couplings, and to substitute therefor whatlterm a facejoint,77 in which the joined pieces meet face to face, and are held so without one part entering the other.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a coupling formed with a joint which will tighten under internal pressure.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth, reference being had to the following points particularly: first, to the construction of each half or part of the coupling with a spring clamping-jaw and a lug, thejaw of each half or part being designed and adapted to engage with the lug of the other half or part; second, to the formation in the meeting face of each half of the coupling of an annular groove, which receives au india-rubber or equivalent spring-gasket having its exposed surface beveled or inclined so that its inner edge will project beyond the plane of the surrounding metal; third,in certain details hereinafter more fully specified.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A A represent two exactly similar halves or parts, which, when joined together, form my improved coupling. Each of said halves consists of a ring, B, on which is cast or formed a box, b. Pivoted between the sides of said box is a jaw, C, whose rear end, c, rests upon a spring, d, contained within the box. Oh each ring B is also formed a lug, b', which may consist ot' a properly-shaped projection from the rim b2.

The jaws C flare or spread outwardly, so that their free ends are wider than their inclosed ends or those which enter the boxes b b. Said free ends are formed with toothed projections c' c', which engage with the lugs b' b', resting, when engaged, on the shoulders b3 thereof. The middle portions of the lugs b project, as shown, and have inclined faces b4, the jaws (l, between the teeth c c', being correspondingly beveled. The projected middles of the lugs b extend beyond the plane or faces of the sections B, so that when the sections are coupled such extensions (indicated by the letter b5) will pass into the boxes b b, the sides of said boxes being advanced, as shown at b b, to embrace said extensions, and thereby prevent the sections turning on cach other.

F F are guard-lugs cast on the ring-sections B, in line with lugs b', andare designed to protect the jaws C in dragging the hose to which the coupling is applied.

G represents annular grooves in the faces or ends of sections A, and H shows packing-rings or india-rubber gaskets fitted therein, having beveled faces h h, which project beyond the ends of said sections, so that whenl the latter are coupled the edges h It' will meet and be compressed upon each other.

To couple the sections they are brought face to face, thejaws being distended, so as to pass over the lugs b b, and then permitted to clamp down upon said lugs, the central projections of said lugs passing between the sides of the boxes, and the packing-rings being compressed by contact with each other. To uncouple, the jaws are rst distended by drawing them out wardly, and the sections are then pulled apart.

lVhen in use the internal pressure of the water tends to tighten the joint by forcing the packing-rings'outwardly, thereby, on account of the bevel of rings, compressing their faces more firmly together. As the sections of the couplin gare exactly alike, any one section may be joined to another, hence avoiding the diflculties attendant on the use ot' male and fem ale sections, which require the two parts to be joined to be unlike. The construction and opn eration being simple, the coupling is easily ef- IOO fected and virtually self-suggestive, so that when used during the excitement of fires, 85o., there is little or no danger ot' dangerous mistakes or delays being made in regard to uniting and separating sections.

What I claim as myinvention isl. The hose-coupling section A, having box b, with pivoted jaw-clamp C and spring d, secured in said box and protected and concealed by said box and jaw, substantially as shown and described.

2. A hose-coupling composed of two similar sections, A A, each of which has a springjawcalnp, C, a lug, b', for the engagement of said clamps,and a packing-ring, H, said jaw-clamps and lugs on each section being on opposite sides, respectively, of the section, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the hose-section having` lug b with similar section having box b, zo with extensions bs, which said lug is adapted to enter, to prevent the coupler-sections from turning` on each other, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 25 have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of Julie, 1880.

LEWIS FORD.

Witnesses WILLIAM M. MCKNIGHT, S. J. VAN STAvoREN. 

